Scheduled to appear before Clark County District Court Judge Mary Kay Holthus again on Monday morning, defendant Deobra Redden, who faced a felony battery charge stemming from a baseball bat attack, made a plea for leniency on January 3. In this court appearance, Redden, attempting to portray a turnaround in his violent past, emphasized his commitment to doing the right thing even in challenging circumstances.
However, as Judge Holthus leaned towards a prison sentence for Redden, the courtroom witnessed a shocking incident. Reacting strongly, Redden shouted expletives, charged forward, and vaulted over the judge's bench, initiating a brawl. The video footage depicted Redden leaping over the judicial bench, grabbing Judge Holthus' hair, and causing her to fall back against a wall, with an American flag toppling on them.
Describing the leap, Chief Judge Jerry Wiese mentioned that Redden "supermanned over the judicial bench." Subsequently, a chaotic scene unfolded, involving the judge's clerk, Michael Lasso, and several court and jail officers wrestling Redden off the judge. Amid the scuffle, some officers threw punches. Although Lasso sustained cuts on his hands, and a marshal suffered a dislocated shoulder and a forehead gash, Judge Holthus, who suffered some injuries, resumed work the next day.
Acknowledging Lasso's swift response, Wiese praised him as the "primary person" who prevented more severe injuries to Judge Holthus. Redden, facing $54,000 bail for the attack, refused to return to court the next day, leading to the rescheduling of his appearance for the new charges on Tuesday. The charges include extortion, coercion with force, and battery on a protected person, referring to the judge and the officers who intervened.
During Monday's appearance, Holthus is expected to continue sentencing in Redden's other case related to the baseball bat attack. Initially charged with assault, Redden reached a plea deal with prosecutors, pleading guilty in November to a reduced charge of attempted battery resulting in substantial injuries.
Redden's criminal record, predominantly marked by violent offenses, encompasses three felonies and nine misdemeanors, as per District Attorney Steve Wolfson. Wolfson emphasized Redden's history of violence throughout his adult life. Notably, during the January 3 incident, Redden, released from custody while awaiting sentencing, was not shackled or in jail attire.
